Global trends and prospects of endothelial keratoplasty from 2004 to 2023: a bibliometric analysis.

Background: Endothelial keratoplasty (EK) has revolutionized the treatment of corneal diseases by offering a less invasive alternative to traditional full-thickness keratoplasty. Over the past decades, EK techniques have evolved significantly, improving surgical outcomes, expediting recovery, and reducing postoperative complications. Nevertheless, challenges such as postoperative rejection and endothelial cell loss persist. This study utilizes bibliometric analysis to map the current research landscape of EK and identify future directions.

Methods: A systematic bibliometric analysis was conducted on publications spanning from 2004 to 2023, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Key metrics such as annual publication and citation counts, contributions by countries and institutions, influential journals, authors and cited authors, highly cited references, co-citation references, and keyword trends were extracted and analyzed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer, Microsoft Excel, Bibliometrix, Scimago Graphica, and Microsoft Excel.

Results: A total of 2676 relevant publications were identified from 2004 to 2023. While the first 5 years saw the limited number of publications in this field, a marked increase in publications has occurred throughout these years. The United States, Germany, and England were the leading contributors. Marianne O. Price emerged as the most prolific author, with Francis W. Price Jr. most frequently cited among the top contributors. Major publishing journals included Cornea, Ophthalmology, and American Journal of Ophthalmology. Leading institutions included the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery and the Legacy Devers Eye Institute. VOSviewer keyword clustering revealed 13 thematic clusters, with trending keywords such as "risk factors" and "tissue," suggesting emerging focal points.

Conclusions: The bibliometric analysis highlights the dynamic evolution and key research areas of EK and ocular disease management. Leveraging these insights is crucial for advancing clinical practice and driving further innovation in the field.